Black Doves star Keira Knightley has addressed the "f****d up" dynamic between Helen Webb and her handler, Reed (Sarah Lancashire), as the spy thriller returns for season 2.
The Netflix series picks up with both women caught in a deeply personal conspiracy, which digs up skeletons from Reed's past and puts Helen's fragile family life in the firing line.
If Reed was arguably underdeveloped in the first season, this new six-parter fixes that with a harrowing backstory for the character that goes some way to explaining her icy exterior.
But, in an interview with Radio Times, Knightley revealed that she didn't view Helen's relationship to Reed any differently, despite the bombshell intel exposed in season 2.
"I've always had a theory with Helen that Reed is a bit of a mummy character for her," she began. "But like a really, really f***** up mummy character that never gives her what she wants.
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"And it's like a toxic maternal relationship that she's got going on with her. I think that continues in its strange, strange way [in season 2]."
Addressing the shocking flashbacks, Knightley pointed out how Reed's origins eerily mirror Helen's current situation, which could well be expanded upon should the drama return for season 3.
"All the way through, Helen is trying to make sure that she's keeping the children, and it's all about her children being safe," added Knightley.
"So that plays out within this as well... I think there's quite a lot [of parallels between Reed and Helen]. The parallels are starting to come through, I think, in season 2 in a really interesting way."
In a separate chat for members of the press, Lancashire heaped praise on her "wonderful" co-star Knightley, and agreed that Helen is "almost a continuum" of Reed.
The Happy Valley icon said of her character: "It's almost as if she keeps the real Reed in a vault, away from prying eyes and emotional harm.
"What she presents to the world is a replica of herself, identical in every way except the inner landscape's been altered – there are no imperfections and no frayed edges."
Lancashire added: "I think Reed sees a lot of herself in Helen, she's almost a continuum of her, as if they share DNA. She definitely believes she's recruited very well.
"As much as possible, Reed will always be a safety net for Helen, and I don't believe Reed would ever ask Helen to do something she wouldn't do herself. That said, Reed has absolutely no morals whatsoever. I call her a psychopathic Mary Poppins."
The Black Doves cast welcomes Ambika Mod (One Day) and Babou Ceesay (Alien: Earth) for season 2, in addition to returning favourites Ben Whishaw, Ella Lily Hyland and Gabrielle Creevy.
Black Doves seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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